KP Saikiran
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala govt has extended its financial austerity measures for the fourth consecutive year, originally started in Nov 2021 in response to Covid-triggered crisis.
The steps include curbs on extravagant spending, such as the beautification of govt offices, purchase of new furniture and vehicles for official use. However, increasing exemptions have undermined the effectiveness of the austerity efforts. The govt faces the challenge of repaying Rs 24,100 crore in principal amounts borrowed from external sources between 2016-17 and 2023-24 over the next three years.